RUPERT Murdoch dramatically surrendered to public outrage last night and agreed to submit to a grilling by MPs over the newspaper hacking scandal.

In what promises to be a sensational Parliamentary clash, the tycoon and his News Corporation executive son James will face an historic inquisition by the House of Commons Culture, Media and Sport Committee next week. It’s a probe into corruption, snooping and lawbreaking at newspapers.

But the pair only agreed to attend following the issuing of rare Parliamentary summonses and threats of fines and even imprisonment for defying the will of the Commons.

Former News of the World and Sun editor Rebekah Brooks, who is under intense pressure to resign as News International chief executive, will join them at the hearing.

The surrender followed a tumultuous fortnight for Mr Murdoch, 80, including the closure of the 168-year-old News of the World and the decision to ditch the cherished £8billion full takeover by News Corp of satellite television broadcaster BSkyB.

I think they will look very silly if all they do is sit there and say ‘no comment’

Lib Dem MP Julian Huppert

While he was battling away in London, his wife Wendi, 42, was also in the spotlight – attending a film screening with actress Nicole Kidman in New York. Also in the US last night it emerged that the FBI is to investigate allegations that News Corp sought to hack into the phones of 9/11 victims.

The confirmation of the Murdochs’ attendance before MPs set up a momentous showdown between the world’s biggest media organisation and Parliament next Tuesday.

Lib Dem MP Julian Huppert, a member of the committee, said: “I think they will look very silly if all they do is sit there and say ‘no comment’. Rupert Murdoch is fighting for the survival of his entire empire.

“It will be, I think, a truly amazing session. What you will see is some calm, measured questioning.”

The family of murdered schoolgirl Milly Dowler, whose mobile phone voicemail was hacked while police hunted for her, last night welcomed the hearing but feared the News Corp trio would say little.

Mark Lewis, the family’s solicitor, said: “The family is pleased that they are going to attend but I think they will be sceptical about anything they will say.”

He speculated that “we’re going to see the three monkeys, ‘hear no evil, see no evil, speak no evil’. They’re going to say undoubtedly ‘heard no phone hacking, saw no phone hacking and nobody was speaking about phone hacking’.”

Mr Murdoch and his 38-year-old son had earlier both declined to attend next Tuesday’s hearing. James Murdoch, chief of his father’s Asian and European operation, claimed to be “not able” to turn up, although he offered two alternative dates during Parliament’s summer recess.

His father claimed to be “unavailable to attend” at all, while offering to face a judge-led inquiry into phone hacking later. But the Murdochs changed their minds following the threat of a full Parliamentary summons.

MPs were discussing invoking ancient Parliamentary law to impose fines not used for more than 300 years or even imprisonment in the dungeons of the House of Commons.

The Murdochs’ U-turn was announced soon afterwards. Select committee chairman John Whittingdale, a Tory MP, said: “People want to hear the truth. This is not about a lynch mob or an opportunity to throw abuse.

“It will be the first time that Rupert Murdoch and James Murdoch, and indeed, Rebekah Brooks, will have answered questions about this.”

Fears that the trio will stonewall were fuelled by a letter from Ms Brooks to the committee yesterday.

She agreed to accept the original invitation but indicated that the police investigation would limit her answers.

“We are in the midst of an investigation and we do not want to prejudice it,” she wrote.